Torfaen smoking gestapo

[Busterbulldog]

I am a self employed plumber,I insure my van for both business and pleasure/personal use. On Friday I took a day off work and drove into Cwmbran.I pulled up in a lay-by for a ciggy...seconds later I get pounced on by 2 local council guys with video cameras and both myself and my 21 yr old son got £30 spot fines.....Looking at the law it seems I can no longer smoke in my vehicle at any time anywhere ...nor can my wife or my son or a friend, yet if I take my car we can...what a load of tosh

Edited by Busterbulldog on Monday 19th May 18:22

[V8Ford]

They can go to bed tonight and sleep sound in the knowledge they saved you both from certain death, I certainly feel safer knowing our laybys are being kept free from the menace known as 'two blokes in a van smoking tabs'

[B17NNS]

You're not the only one...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1038301/Pa...

Hope you've got a sticker…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272356/Va...

[Busterbulldog]

I was threatened with a £200 fine for not displaying a sticker,the smoking fine rises to £50 if not paid within 2 weeks then rises to £200 and a criminal conviction....It was also indicated to me that because I am self employed,therefore in charge fines can run into thousands....If you drive a van beware

[B17NNS]

http://www.webcars.co.uk/article.asp?id=128

Rules and exemptions

The new regulations prohibit smoking in all enclosed public spaces. Company vehicles are to be treated as ‘work places’ if they are used by more than one employee. The following rules apply:

Employees who have a company vehicle for their sole use may not smoke while carrying colleagues for work purposes

Employees who have a company vehicle for their sole use may smoke while carrying colleagues to and from a place of work, as these journeys are counted as private use

Drivers are not allowed to smoke in a company vehicle if it is used by more than one employee, for example pool cars, as there is a risk that other colleagues might later inhale their smoke

Employees sharing a pool car are not allowed to smoke in the vehicle, even if all the users of the vehicle are heavy smokers

A shared company vehicle is exempt from the smoking ban if it is a convertible, but only when the roof is down Penalties and fines for breaking the law